Dahlia plant named `Ruicaro`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named `Ruicaro`, characterized by its large and numerous double inflorescences that are about 8.5 cm in diameter; intense red ray florets; mostly upright, mounded and uniform growth habit; very dark green shiny leaves; and strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dahliaplant, botanically known as Dahlia variabilis, and hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name `Ruicaro`.

The new Dahlia is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Hillegom, The Netherlands. The objective of the breedingprogram is to develop new compact pot-type Dahlias that are basallybranching, freely flowering, and with attractive inflorescence forms andcolors.

The new Dahlia originated from a cross made by the Inventor of twounidentified proprietary Dahlia variabilis seedling selections in 1992.The cultivar `Ruicaro` was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Hillegom, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia by terminal cuttings harvested inHillegom, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of thisDahlia are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Dahlia has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without,however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Ruicaro`. These characteristics incombination distinguish `Ruicaro` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Large and numerous double inflorescences that are about 8.5 cm indiameter.

2. Intense red ray florets.

3. Mostly upright, mounded and uniform growth habit.

4. Very dark green shiny leaves.

5. Strong peduncles that hold inflorescences above the foliage.

Compared to plants of the parent cultivars, plants of new Dahlia areshorter, have smaller leaves, and differ in ray floret color.

The new Dahlia is similar in ray floret color to the Dahlia cultivar`Connie`, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,768. However, inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Hillegom, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Dahlia are more compact, are more floriferous andinflorescences are more fully double (have more ray florets perinflorescence) than plants of the cultivar `Connie`.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of the new Dahlia.Ray floret and foliage colors may appear different from the actualcolors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown in De Lier, The Netherlands, in12-cm containers in a glass greenhouse with average day and nighttemperatures of 22° and 18° C., respectively.

Botanical classification: Dahlia variabilis `Ruicaro`.

Parentage:

Female, or seed, parent.--Unidentified proprietary Dahlia variabilisseedling selection, not patented.

Male, or pollen, parent.--Unidentified proprietary Dahlia variabilisseedling selection, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.--By terminal cuttings or by tissue culture.

Time to initiate roots.--Summer: About 5 days at 22° C. Winter: About 8days at 20° C.

Time to develop roots.--Summer: About 12 days at 22° C. Winter: About 16days at 20° C.

Rooting habit.--Easily propagated; roots fine, fibrous andwell-branched.

Plant description:

Appearance.--Typically grown as potted flowering plants. Mostly upright,mounded and uniform growth habit; rounded plant apex. Moderate growthrate and moderately vigorous. Appropriate for 10 to 12.5-cm containers.Plants typically flower about 8 weeks after planting rooted cuttings.Freely basally branching, however, plants typically require pinching toenhance lateral branch development.

Plant height.--About 27 cm.

Plant spread.--About 32 cm.

Stem description.--Lateral branch diameter: About 1.2 cm. Internodelength: About 2.4 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144A.

Foliage description.--Arrangement: Young foliage, leaves single; fullyexpanded foliage, leaves compound, trifoliate; opposite. Leaf length:About 12.4 cm. Leaf width: About 11.3 cm. Terminal leaflet width: About5.2 cm. Leaflet shape: Ovate. Leaflet apex: Acute. Leaflet base:Attenuate. Leaflet margin: Serrate to dentate. Leaflet texture: Shiny,glabrous. Petiole length: About 5.3 cm. Color: Young leaflets, uppersurface: 147A. Young leaflets, lower surface: 147B. Mature leaflets,upper surface: Darker than 147A. Mature leaflets, lower surface: Lighterthan 147B. Petiole: 147B.

Flowering description:

Appearance.--Double inflorescence form. Inflorescences generallyhemispherical and borne on terminals above foliage, arising from leafaxils on strong peduncles; inflorescences above the foliage.Inflorescences face upright and outward. Freely flowering, typicallyabout 20 inflorescences per plant. Disc and ray florets arrangedacropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences are not fragrant.

Flowering response.--Under natural conditions, plants flowerintermittently from late spring through fall.

Flower longevity.--Flowers last about one to two weeks on the plant.

Flower bud (just before opening).--Shape: Spherical. Length: About 9 mm.Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Color: 145A.

Inflorescence size.--Diameter: About 8.5 cm. Depth (height): About 2.2cm. Disc floret diameter: About 1 cm; conspicuous only on fully openedinflorescences.

Ray florets.--Quantity per inflorescence: About 55. Shape: Broadlyelliptic. Orientation: Initially upright to horizontal; cupped. Length:About 4.2 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Apex: Acute or emarginate. Base:Attenuate. Margin. Entire. Texture: Satiny, glabrous. Color: Whenopening, upper surface: 46A. When opening, lower surface: 46A to 42Awith yellowish, close to 10A, longitudinal veins. Fully opened, uppersurface: More intense than 45A. Fully opened, lower surface: 42A orslightly darker with yellowish, 10B, longitudinal veins.

Disc florets.--Quantity per inflorescence: About 35. Shape: Tubular.Orientation: Upright. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: Apex, about 1.5 mm;base, about 1 mm. Apex: Dentate. Color: Apex, 12A; mid-section and base,whitish green.

Peduncle.--Aspect: Upright and strong. Length: About 10 cm. Diameter:About 4 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144A.

Involucral bracts.--Shape: Oblong. Tip: Rounded. Margin: Entire.Texture: Waxy. Color: 144A to 144C.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium (Present on disc florets): Anthercolor: 9A. Pollen amount: Moderate to abundant. Pollen color: 17A.Gynoecium present on ray and disc florets.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known Dahlia diseases has not beenobserved on plants grown under commercial greenhouse conditions.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant named`Ruicaro`, as illustrated and described.